Dani Coco, a talent manager based in San Diego, learned a hard lesson about dating coworkers in her second post-college job in 2019. After six months of dating a coworker in the same position as her, he suddenly ghosted her, blocking her number and avoiding her in the office. Despite company policies allowing office romances, Coco’s experience left her with a bitter taste in her mouth.
Fast forward to 2023, and workplace romances are making a comeback among younger millennial and Gen Z workers. A recent survey by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) found that 33% of younger millennial and Gen Z workers are open to workplace romances, compared to only 15% of older millennials.
The resurgence of office romances coincides with a decline in popularity of dating apps among young people. Match Group, the conglomerate that owns Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps, reported a decline in paying users in the last quarter of 2023. This shift away from dating apps is driven by a desire for more meaningful connections and shared experiences, as opposed to swiping based solely on appearance.
Despite the risks associated with dating a coworker, some, like Katrina Gao, 28, have found success in workplace romances. Gao met her fiancé while working at a fashion brand in Vancouver, and believes that meeting someone at work allows for a more organic and authentic connection.
As the pendulum swings back towards office romances and away from dating apps, the future of digital dating remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear—people are craving genuine connections and are willing to take the risk of dating a coworker in pursuit of love.